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Sunday, 2 August 2015

About 'That' Sporting Uniform, Kate Qualifies as an Advanced Diver & More

Last Sunday the Cambridges supported the America's Cup World Series in Portsmouth and one topic dominated the discussion on the day. No, I'm not talking about the cancellation of the races - instead Kate's sartorial selections on the day.

The Duchess opted to wear her 'sporting uniform' - a look consisting of the following pieces:

Skinny jeans.

Breton stripe top.

Navy Blazer or official gear of the sporting team.

Wedges or boat shoes.

The look has become synonymous with the Duchess. When the engagement in Portsmouth was announced I doubt I was the only one who instantly thought some of these items were precisely what Kate would choose for the day. Was the choice appropriate for the nature of the engagement? Absolutely. It was a comfortable, casual look, perfectly suited to a day spent watching sailing.

The Cambridges even sported personalised team pullovers by Henri Lloyd, however, it was strongly felt by some fashion writers, fans of the Duchess and many readers the look has become "tired", is worn with too much frequency, and it's time for a change.

I recall during the royal tour of Canada in 2011, when we first saw Kate sporting the look with variation. Below we see Kate wearing her navy Smythe blazer, J Brand 811 skinny jeans, a cream ruffled blouse by Lauren by Ralph Lauren and her Imperia wedges during a visit to Slave lake. As the couple prepared to travel to Blachford lake, Kate sported a chic Burberry shirt with her jeans and Sebago Bala boat shoes. Both looks were effortlessly chic, polished and stylish.

During London 2012 we saw Kate teaming the look with official jackets and footwear. We've seen this trend continue for visits with the scouts and of course last Sunday's Portsmouth visit. It's a very visual way of lending supporting to the team, and given the enormous focus on Kate's style, it potentially offers a significant upshot in purchases of team clothing.

In the last couple of years, Kate has selected her trademark look several times for sporting related engagements.

Why does Her Royal Highness choose the exact same look time and time again? There's a multitude of possibilities for this beginning with the most obvious: it's clearly a look she feels comfortable in. So comfortable in fact, Kate looked completely relaxed playing volleyball in her Stuart Weitzman Corkswoon wedges for her first solo engagement after Prince George was born.

The look, no matter how many times it is seen, is appropriate for sporting related engagements. It also detracts attention significantly from Kate's sartorial choices, and I have noticed less media coverage of her clothing during these engagements. Indeed, it also requires very little planning, serving as a 'go-to' outfit.

There's a plethora of reading material available online detailing experiences from successful women who have chosen to wear the same thing for work over and over (with thanks to the reader who shared the tip). One art director shared her story with Harper's Bazaar:

'To state the obvious, a work uniform is not an original idea. There's a group of people that have embraced this way of dressing for years—they call it a suit. For men, it's a very common approach, even mandatory in most professions.

Nevertheless, I received a lot of mixed reactions for usurping this idea for myself. Immediately, people started asking for a motive behind my new look: "Why do you do this? Is it a bet?" When I get those questions I can't help but retort, "Have you ever set up a bill for online auto-pay? Did it feel good to have one less thing to deal with every month?'

An interesting LinkedIN article shares several reason why successful women can wear the same thing every day:

'1. They don’t worry about pleasing others: They know who they are and have no desire to live their lives based on the desires of others. They are comfortable in their own skin.

2. They know their self-worth is not based on the latest fashion trends: They know there is so much more to who they are than the clothes they wear.

3. They don’t sweat the small stuff: They know and understand that in life, there are bigger and better things to focus on rather than what they are wearing!

4. They don’t try to keep up with the Joneses: They are not trying to keep up with what everyone else is doing. They are not living their lives based on what everyone is wearing, thinks is fashionable or even, what other people define a successful woman to be. They do their own thing!

5. They are ok with being different: They have no desire to fit in. Instead, they want to stand out! They are true to who they are.

6. They enjoy simplicity in life: They know that life brings a variety of obstacles and challenges and quite frankly, clothes and fashion is not something they want to stress about. Simplicity = less stress.'

It's also a 'go-to' look for Kate in her private life. The Duchess was seen arriving in Mustique with Prince George in 2014 wearing the ensemble and several months before grocery shopping in Anglesey.

Hello! Magazine

Most noticeably, we've seen the Duchess choose the outfit for polo over the last couple of years. The look is in stark contrast to the feminine dresses we saw Kate wearing in previous years. Of course, motherhood is the most likely reason for this. With a boisterous toddler to run after it's a much more practical look.

I have particularly liked the look when Kate switched it up a little. By simply changing one piece it completely transformed the whole look and injected more of her own fashion personality into the look. The coral jeans (far left) were a fabulous, on-trend choice. Switching up the colour of the blazer or choosing a sweater instead, such as the Jonathan Saunders garment worn on tour last year, totally freshened up the look for me.

Splash News/ PA/ London 2012

Kate wearing a chic sleeveless blue blouse and a GAP gingham shirt with her blazer and jeans offered a new take on the look, too.

Of course, a 'go-to' look is something each and every one of us has in our wardrobes and for the summer season a stripe top will be an indispensable piece for many. Breton stripes are quite simply everywhere at the moment, and I was amazed at the sheer number available on the high street over the summer. Joules, a British brand which would be perfect for Kate, have some fabulous stripe tops with their individual stamp on offer - all of which would look splendid on the Duchess.

Joules

Are stripe tops and skinny jeans a staple in your wardrobe? They certainly are in mine, particularly for the summer and autumn when our weather can be, shall we say, a tad unpredictable at times. Switching to white jeans instantly updates the wardrobe for the season offering endless stylish possibilities too. Kate looks fantastic in white jeans, and she wore them quite a bit during her pre-engagement days. I'm away at present and when travelling one wants to pack everything... I've found myself styling white jeans with various other pieces for casual outings and a recent pleasure cruise.

She Finds

My stripe tops of choice are by Petit Bateau (a brand Prince George has worn). The heavy jersey tops feature a detachable velvet belt with a bow and a fitted waist. The brand collaborated with Christian Lacroix to create the piece and others as part of a collaboration with the National Opera of Paris. At £23 they are a steal. Teamed with a scarf by Joules and a pair of S Perry Boat Shoes it was the perfect choice for the outing. Another way I styled the jeans was with a simple cardigan by Darling Clothes and one of their matching bags (a feminine brand full of timeless pieces I cannot recommend highly enough).

How do you style your 'go-to' look? What seasonal changes do you make to keep it updated? Do you emulate Kate's casual style? Are you a fan of Kate's 'sporting uniform'?

From a sartorial perspective, I would love to see her implement new pieces, however, I do think it's absolutely fine for her to re-wear it as is. As a keen sportswoman, more engagements calling for a casual look are likely to be the rule rather than the exception. What would you like to see Kate wear? One of the most popular suggestions has been pants instead of jeans. Share your thoughts in the comments section!

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In other news, we have a few updates of interest to share. The Telegraph reports the Duchess has qualified as an advanced diver.

'Kensington Palace confirmed to the Telegraph that the Duchess has passed a Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) Advanced Open Water Diver qualification, meaning she can dive to a depth of 30 metres (98ft).

It is the most advanced qualification taken by most recreational divers, as going any deeper involves inherent risks such as nitrogen narcosis, a sensation similar to drunkenness. The qualification has enabled the Duchess to join her husband on deep dives to look for sharks during holidays in the Middleton family’s regular haunt of Mustique.'

Kelly Fisher Katz, who met William and Kate on holiday in Mustique spoke about their diving abilities.

'We went diving and they went very deep, more than 90ft. Our instructor said Martin and I weren’t qualified to go on the shark dives that they went on. They’re quite the sportsmen.

To pass the PADI advanced qualification divers must complete a total of five dives, including a deep dive and an underwater navigation dive, during which they are taught how to cope with the physiological effects of deeper scuba diving.'

The Palace said, "Diving is something the Duchess very much enjoys, and the Duke of Cambridge, who is of course President of the BSAC, has said in the past that he is hopeful his children will become interested in the sport."

Congratulations to Kate. Perhaps we'll see diving implemented on a future tour itinerary? Now, wouldn't that be fun :)

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Finally, as you have probably seen, photos of Carole Middleton and her grandson Prince George playing on the beach with family pet Lupo and building sandcastles emerged last week. The photos were reportedly taken on the day of his second birthday, on 22 July. Kate was reportedly out running last-minute errands for the party and Carole took the opportunity to spend some quality time with the little Prince. You can view the entire set of photos of at Pop Sugar.

'The little prince, who is third in line to the throne, is said to be particularly taken with the spectacular treehouse his grandfather had built for William and Harry.Hidden away in an area of the garden known as The Stumpery (so-called because there are layers upon layers of old tree stumps and logs) it was designed by William Bertram for the then five and three-year-old princes.

Mr Bertram asked to interview the boys about what they wanted and William told him: ‘I want it to be as high as possible so I can get away from everyone and I want a rope ladder which I can pull up so no-one can get at me.’

The treehouse – named Hollyrood House after the Queen’s palace in Scotland, but also because it was originally built in a holly bush – was finally installed just in time for William’s seventh birthday in 1989.'

According to media reports, Prince Charles enjoys picnics with George and has even bought him a tea set, complete with plastic cups to enjoy. Aside from refurbishing the treehouse, it is understood Charles has had a £20,000 hut installed with a bed, woodburner and French oak wooden floors for his grandchildren.

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For those asking, I wouldn't be at all surprised if we heard an engagement announcement during the week. August is traditionally very quiet for the royals, but I wouldn't rule out the possibility of an engagement during the month.

376 comments:

I don't think we will see either Kate or William have any engagements this month. The Whole Royal Family pretty much takes August off. Anne had the IOC the last few days, but there aren't any other Royal engagements scheduled till the last 2 days of August. And the past 2 years Kate hasn't really had any engagements in August. I think we will see her pick up to her regular schedule in September.

Charlotte thank you for a new post! I haven't been reading the comments lately, but are people really that upset bc she repeats her sporting outfits?! Oh well. I'm crossing my fingers that she has more engagements soon!

Totally agree! Kate appears to focus on what is important: her family, her country, and enthusiastically supporting the charities and causes she selects. She always looks fantastic even when wearing repeats. Perhaps we can all learn from her lead and be more concerned with being good human beings, helping others, and taking care of the planet, than getting a new outfit for a sporting event!

Robbie can't you be a good human being and still look your very best doing it? What's wrong with buying a new pair of jeans and helping others too? It's like you have to be one or the other. No where does it say you have to be a good human being and look bad or vice versa that if you're dressed nice that you seem to care more about yourself rather than other people.

It's clear from the post that Kate has worn different variations of this casual "uniform". Not exactly the same look as some have suggested. Navy blazers and other items featured here are classic and never go out of style (with the obvious exception being the cut of the jeans which does change periodically).

Having said that, I must admit to being sorry to see this new post (and NO disrespect towards Charlotte is intended...none!). It's just that I see it as another round of the same complaints about her choices.

My "go to" is tights or pantyhose with a cotton pencil skirt in a variety of choices and either a blouse or a top and cardigan. I have never been able to be comfortable in pants, especially jeans, but I know most people have that as their "go to" and I can really see why Kate has it as well :) Also, looking around my closet I have WAY more blue with white polka dots than I was aware of :P Oh well!

I'm sure there's practicality in her outfit choices. Don't forget, she isn't sitting at a desk, so if she wears white jeans and gets something on them, it's more noticeable than dark, and she probably doesn't necessarily have the opportunity to pop into the loo to change. (And I'm sure the same people who are commenting that her looks are becoming the same would be the first to comment how awful a stain looks) I'm sure it's the same for her makeup. How many people would want to have a photo opp with her if she wasn't looking perfect? And she isn't always going to have the chance to pop in front of a mirror to touch up her makeup. And she still looks fabulous. Even in her 'uniform'. :)

Carole knew she was being photographed. PopSugar had over 50 shots. You don't get 50 shots -- doing different things -- if people know they are being photographed and don't want to be. The RPOs have asked people not to photograph Kate when she's walking down the street; you'd think they'd do the same with her child if it was unwanted attention. The other "tell"? No one has complained.

And bluhare in some of the pics she was looking directly at the camera.

Does anyone know if those pics of Kate and George at the petting zoo when she was pregnant were taking by a pap or a regular person. I've heard both and also that Kate knew she was being photographed, and that she allowed it.

Bluhare, that argument sounds creepily close to "she had a short skirt, so she wanted it". Just because they don't make a fuss about it and goes about their daily things doesn't mean they sought it out or wanted it. It just mean that they either have decided that it won't do any good to make a fuss or that they choose not to do it around George so not to scare him.

I agree Rebecca. I’ve also heard numerous celebrities say that they try to stay calm and pretend that nothing is wrong when they’re papped with their small children, so as not to alarm or frighten the kids.

I said that if the RPO's aren't stopping them then it doesn't seem to be unwanted attention because it would have been stopped if that were the case. How you can take that and compare it to rape is beyond me, Rebecca.

That diving certificate is some intense stuff.Ha Ha, no paparazzi at 90 ft.

I found Wiliam's childhood comments about a treehouse "so high he would be able to get away from people" and "having a rope that he could pull up so no one could get him", so sad. No wonder he became a flyer.

Seeing the outfits she has worn in the past posted in the same post as the "uniform" it has proven to me that she has become completely boring. I've made no secret of the fact that since she is not my Duchess, her activities mean nothing to me...therefore I am here for the clothes. Well, the clothes are so lackluster that my interest has wained significantly.

I'll still read the blog because Charlotte is excellent and I would read her write about paint drying. But as far as Kate is concerned, I've simply lost the interest I had.

I agree 100%. She has zero excuses not to at least change her top and buy a new pair of jeans/shoes every once in a while. I used to get excited to see a new blog post, but now I can usually already name the coat dress, jeans, shoes, clutch and earrings Kate will undoubtedly be wearing. Such a shame.

And I’m pretty sure that Kate and the rest of the royal family is thrilled that her clothes have become boring to many and are not the only interest people have in her. So I imagine that they’d be thrilled to see these comments.

I love her sporty uniform. LL Bean has a good stripe top, too. The French Sailor's shirt. It comes in a variety of coors and is deadly comfortable. I pair mine with skinnies and either my Sperrys or Balas. Glad I'm not in the public eye! People would surely tire of me!

My opnionated feelings - be warned all:Jeans are fine for active sporting events (volleyball, sailing) and for informal watching of sporting events. (Polo, the Olympics) Jeans should be neat. They should not look ratty or old and they shouldn't sag at the knee. That look is slovenly and should be retired. If tight jeans can't be worn without knee sagging they shouldn't be worn except to the most casual events. It's like wearing a badly creased outfit.Tops should be varied. There is no excuse not to. Charlotte showed a number of interesting and inexpensive tops.

Royals aren't standard professionals - they are honouring the people they visit. For that reason, a royal should always dress well and a little better than those they visit. Not to, implies the visit is less important than others unless it is a very active sporting event. The queen does brilliantly keeping to similar styles but varying her look from colours to hats to brooches. It is something Kate should emulate within her own style.

No royal should ever be dressed more casually than the people they visit - it makes the people they visit feel and look over dressed and again degrades the visit. Ideally, the royal should be dressed slightly better than the people they are visiting at the engagement. So if everyone is in jeans, that's fine. If most people, for instance at a military engagement, are in dresses, that's what the royal should be wearing - and should build in time to change, if necessary. The converse isn't true as people in walkabouts will be dressed more casually.

Any royal should dress as if the people they meet are the most important people in the world - what they would wear to impress a boss or important friend. It can be casual - I just saw a photo of Raina at a casual event - she had a jeans jacket with a flaired skirt. She looked casual and unpretentious yet she stood out.

I was a professional woman. Neither I nor the women I worked with wore the same outfit every day although mostly we wore suits. Even the men varied their suits and ties. I laid out my clothes the night before including brooches and chains. I considered it respectful to my job. Unlike Kate, I also had to help cook dinner, do laundry, shop and do work I had taken home. My life wasn't that different from most professional women I knew.

Today, I'm retired. At home I wear jeans but vary the tops. When I go out, even to a casual dinner, I usually avoid jeans but then I am an old biddy, so maybe I am out of touch.

Julia, with all due respect, you are judging Kate by Queen Mother standards. She is 33 years old. Older princesses (European) have worn jeans when appropriate. Skinny jeans are in style right now and the "flaws" you describe are normal for this particular cut.

I'm younger than Diana would have been today, but close enough and I will tell you that I do like jeans and a blazer for a smart casual look. I work out and fit into the same size I wore in college, and I happen to have several pairs of the same jeans in my closet. If something works for your figure, I honestly don't see what the fuss is about. You'd think she wore them to church on Christmas Day. :)

I agree with Julia too. I think the problem isn't necessarily the uniform but its the fact that she doesn't even try to vary it anymore or obtain nrw pieces when the older ones have clearly had it. As far as professionals who have a working uniform, they don't rewear the same pieces each day. They have numerous pieces in similar styles that they change up cleverly with accessories, and they don't wear tired, worn out clothing either. I had the same reaction as bonnieux. After looking at all these older photographs, Kate's clothing is becoming a bit boring. I'm sad for her. She is too young to have that attitude.

Erika you don't have to be sad for her. She appears to be a healthy, happy individual with two beautiful children and an apparent happy marriage. In the grand scheme of things that is what really matters and not a clothing choice. Some felt her choice appropriate and others did not. How much more can and needs to be said about the same subject by the same people.

I think Kate wears this "uniform" to purposely take away attention from her clothes and hopefully focus it on the event, charity or function. The press won't take a million pictures of her if she is wearing virtually the same thing. I remember reading that Madonna, when she lived in London, wore the exact same outfit everyday taking her kids to school. The press started to leave her alone because the pictures wouldn't sell. They looked the same.

JLN (so close to my initials) I would be happy to discuss places to visit or pubs to pass the time but at the end of the day, this blog is about Kate. And there isn't much to discuss about Kate at the moment except her clothes.

I have not the slightest problem with Kate if she wants to wear her uniform to take her children to school. But attention is desirable on royal occassions. There are plenty of successful queens and princesses who seem to know that.

The royal who drives away the press today is the royal who is going to wonder where the hell they are tomorrow and tomorrow comes in the wink of an eye. Think Andrew and Charles. Once the cameras loved Andrew. Today, I suspect he would give a lot for that attention. Charles seems pathetically pleased when one of his engagments is reported. So Kate may rest assured that the day will come all too soon when no one will be looking at her, or caring about her, unless she gathers her rosebuds now. And caring is essential to her future and George and Charlotte's future.

And I suspect even Madonna wishes now that the press would follow her - when instead they are following Taylor Swift and her like.

The irony of that LondonLady is that over a week later we are still talking about the rewear. Had Kate worn something new, even one new piece or changed up the uniform somehow, we would have had a discussion about it. Why some liked it and vice versa, and that would have been the end of it. If, indeed, the purpose of her sporting uniform is to take the focus away from fashion, it has backfired in a major way.

Well, JLN, Charlotte thought more could be said because she posted about it again. You are right, she has a charmed life and we don't need to be sad for her but I always find it disappointing when a young woman dresses well beyond her years. As far as wearing the same thing to avoid press attention. I understand why Kate does it in her personal life but when she is working in an official nature, she needs that press attention. It's what makes her world as a duchess go round, and her charities are relying on it.

LondonLady, the difference is that this is Kate at work, not Kate on downtime. As well, I am hardly impressed that her best way to put attention onto her charity/charities is to simply wear the same outfit.

"I wish our patrons would stop dressing well so as to take the spotlight away from our cause," said no charity, ever. Photo ops and attention are what these charities NEED. The whole point of royal attendance at these events is to drum up interest! If the royal is in a ho-hum outfit that has been worn many times over, the interest is greatly diminished. It is part of a princess's job to look fabulous, not just comfortable, or low key. Quite honestly, the outfits DO draw attention to the charities. For example, I remember exactly what Kate wore to the Tusk Trust benefits. I had never heard of that organization before -- but I know it now, due to Kate. I remember what Kate wore to the Met dinner, the Girl Scouts, Action on Addiction, etc. The various times Kate has worn this "uniform"? I have no idea where she was....something to do with volleyball....?

I was thinking exactly the same thing! At last.. well said Julia the opinionated and Blair! She is a duchess and a future Queen she must stands out in official appearances, at least, she does not go to the super market to wear something old and practical. Ifi wanted simple and everyday style i would not follow her i would look around my everyday life. Royalty for me means style, fashion, glamour, not clothes practical and old and all the same over and over again. If she does not have what it takes to be really stylish she should consult a stylist. I have noticed that most of the times the coat dress or dress that she buys from a designer, at the end with her usual combinations, the same old shoes and bags, ends up looking worse thank the designer.s complete look. Why on earth doesnt buy the whole outfit or take the designer suggestion about the rest?

Julia, my point is why does there have to be daily discussion regarding Kate? If there is nothing to discuss, why discuss? Charlotte posts something, readers discuss and debate and that should be it. However what happens is that most the conversation is not debate, but a pitching of repetitive opinions with everyone seeking to have the last word. Then judgement occurs and probably makes Charlottes task of monitoring the comments even more difficult.When reading the comment section I am reminded of a talk Max Foster gave in 2013 at St. Andrews University. He noted that a persons interest in Kate does not inform them of Kate herself, because she is a very private person. Rather it tells us more about ourselves. Google this, it is quite interesting.

I'm a bit at a loss, JLN about what you think we should be debating as opposed to discussing. The subject of this particular posting is about Kate's choice of clothes - not an usual topic when discussing royalty - whole books have been written on the subject of royal clothing. There isn't much more to discuss. Kate limited charitable work has been discussed over and over and to the best of our knowledge - and ability to discuss, she is doing nothing at present. I don't quite see that discussing her diving qualifications or the fact her mother took her son to the beach is going to lead us far.

I will Google Max Foster remarks but doubt I will get much more insight than I do from my republican neighbours who question why I'm interested in a very ordinary middle class girl, pretty, but with no remarkable qualifications except a prince fell in love with her, and with little work experience - who likes sports, shopping, holidays and does some charity work -with how much dedication it's hard to say. If I stop to think about this too much, I won't be here myself. More and more people are thinking about this.

I've always considered myself a royalist - someone who feels the institution is of great benefit to the nation and that all individual members are judged to the value they bring to the institution. This, is of course, always subject to revision - some members - Andrew for instance - who once seemed hugely promising have not lived up expectations. Some like Margaret put more focus on their private than pulic life and faltered. Sometimes members who once seemed golden such as Edward VIII crashed and burned.

As I have expressed here many times before - I feel there is a youthful void in the family right now - with a few attractive young members out there - but who aren't putting themselves forward. Why this is so, I don't know - I just see the potential harm and it may be easier to see it at a distance than within the family itself where egos are at play and truths are hard to admit. We have a future king in waiting who is an old man with an extremely unpopular wife. I think the family is coasting at the moment - and it's unclear how things will play out once the queen passes on.

There is a lot of silly stuff out there because there is no real royal news. There are older members working and doing worthy work but this work gets little attention - and like any institution - the royal family needs favourable attention to survive. We can stop commenting and pretty soon this blog will disappear, some already have, and with it the international interest that a young woman in public life has generated.

If Kate truly was a private person at heart - she would have done well to consider marrying into a very public institution like the royal family. She had plenty of time to think about it and chose to do it. My only interest is in Kate, the princess and Duchess of Cambridge - the role she embraced on marriage. I don't have a lot of interest in her private life - it's her public one that concerns me.Her work attire - again I don't care what she wears in private - touched a chord with me because I had to work professionally for years and took pride in dressing appropriately. It was a sign of caring about what you do. To me, dressing for the role is one of the first qualifications of a royal family member - who is basically most of the time, just going into a charity or institution - studying up. shaking hands, offering support for a few hours at the most, and bringing attention to the work. I don't see dress as a trivial matter at all. But I will be glad if and when the day comes when Kate is known more for what she does than what she wears. That can happen - it did with Diana. Will it with Kate - I don't know - I've started to doubt this but I want to be proved wrong - really I do - because she is a future queen consort.

DIANA DRESSING TO THE NINES NEVER, EVER, EVER DETRACTED FROM THE CHARITIES OR EVENTS.

Like Anon said, I remember events and charities by what the female key people wore.

Diana was a unique and charismatic, beautiful person but if she had not looked so beautiful all the times that she did, I doubt that she would have been as popular as she was nor remembered by as many as she is. I believe she totally knew that. I think it was a tool that she gratefully and joyfully used to the fullest advantage.

JLN, you ask that question on a blog with comments? It's designed for daily discussion about Kate! The blog owner actually encourages it. An entertaining comments section actually enhances a blog and gives the owner more hits. And I did google your suggestion and couldn't find anything except a video which is 16 minutes long and, as a result, I didn't watch it. I'm not interested in Kate herself. She is more than welcome to that. I care what she does with her position.

I agree about the repetitive comments, though. We might just disagree about which ones they are.

Julia, once again, I so enjoyed your thoughts.I am with you in hoping that Kate somehow develops the yearning to be the person she can be. I agree that, like it or not, embrace it or not, the future of the monarchy largely rests upon her shoulders. Does she even realize that? I hope at some point soon, she does.

Anonymous :0045 - I'm going to raise a very sad story I read about a couple of years ago. A young girl in the states was kidnapped, had her family killed and then had her brother killed and she was finally spotted in a restaurant with her kidnapper - the waitress in the restaurant recognised her and called the police and she was rescued, thank God.

What did that little girl who had been so horribly abused and seen such terrible things say to the waitess when she came over. "I like your hair." Girls notice such things - regardless of circumstances.

So no, I don't agree. I'm sure the hospices are delighted if Kate just shows up but if she wears a pretty dress (and she has) the mums and little girls there are probably a lot more thrilled than if she turned up in jeans. If she turns up in a new dress they are probably that much more thrilled. It takes them out of the moment, which is the whole point.

And the more attention the charity gets, the more chance for interest and donations. So if a new dress means one more paper carries photos and mentions the charity's name, all to the good.

I've had dying friends tell me how nice I looked or how they liked my dress - and they weren't just being tactful. When dealing with death, I still noticed what people wore and even thought how pleased my late mum would have been to see her friends looking pretty. When the world is dark - colour does't hurt.

JLN, I actually watched the long video of the TedX Talk that Max Foster did at St. Andrews University. It was very interesting.

For those of you who didn’t watch it, I thing it was done in 2012 or 2013, and he basically said that despite the intense, worldwide interest in her (some neat stats that he showed through Google tracking – she’s probably the most famous person who is not dead), and having met her personally multiple times as a Royal Reporter, she it still a very private person. He doesn’t know her hopes, fears, politics, etc.

But the draw is that hers is a captivating story. She rises from middle class to marry the next King of England. It’s the ultimate fairy tale.

He showed what the crowds looked like from Will & Kate’s perspective (him taking pictures behind them, etc) and he’d interview people from the crowds afterward.

He said a lot of fans are mother/daughters looking at the “Barbie” fairytale together. He interviewed fans from the Solomon Islands who came out to see them because they represent Britain and they someday aspire to travel to London.

He showed pictures of them celebrating victory at the Olympics… their pictures come up at historic moments and end of being engraved on our psyches as representative of us in those moments.

So, whether we’re republican or royalist, we are interested in them because of what they represent to us. For some, it’s what they aspire to… role models. For others, it represents unwarranted privilege and inequality. But it’s not necessarily about them personally, because most of us will probably never closely know them. So, we’ll read things into their decisions and actions based on our view of life, etc.

I understand JLN's question. Many times the reasons given for some of the ongoing negative comments is that there is nothing new to talk about. EXACTLY. If there is nothing new or interesting to talk about, and it's a subject that represents an "irritant" to some folks, why not find something enjoyable or more entertaining? Unless of course being negative is entertaining.

Nope Kate is not a business woman, she's a duchess, wife and mother to the future heirs to the throne and the same style rules do not apply. There's the age old saying that you find a style that suits you and you stick with it, but there is nothing wrong with switching it up every once in a while.

To the person who said that Kate signed on to be Wills wife and not a super model. I agree. But when you marry a prince who just so happens to be the future king of England there is a certain expectation that you will look the part. Kate seemed to get that when she was first married. Am I saying she should walk around in tiara's and ballroom gowns all day. No. But what's wrong with putting in a bit of effort when you visit one of your patronages? I'm not saying that Kate doesn't but, I've said it before and I'll say it again. If people can predict what someone is going to wear before they wear it, then it's time for a change.

Kate never put a stylish foot wrong when she was newly married. It seemed as if she had the perfect mix of bespoke duchess Catherine and casual Kate. And why she was so praised for her style was because she mixed just the right of bespoke pieces and high street labels with aplomb. But now 5 years and 2 kids later Kate is stuck in a style rut. In my opinion I think Kate is afraid of change, clothing wise. She finds a style, it gets great praise from the media the first few times she wears it and she clings to it for dear life. Would it kill her to wear longer jeans every once in a while? And no I don't need a style lesson on how cropped jeans are in style because I own several pairs myself. But Kate acts as if they're the only jeans that exist, again when she was newly married Kate wore longer jeans, but somewhere along the way she just stopped wearing them. I've heard that cropped jeans can elongate your legs but I'm 5'10 and I know that a pair of great skinny jeans can make your legs look great too. And Kate always seems like she's trying to make herself seem taller than she actually is. What happened to those amazing blue skinny jeans she wore in the photo that Charlotte posted above. How amazing would she look in those, her wedges a crisp white collared shirt and a blazer. I think Kate seems to have believed the myth that after you become a mother you can't wear the same kinda clothing you did before you had children. I know plenty of stylish mothers, my mother included. And to an extent Kate's mother. She looks very fashionable and sadly at times more so than Kate. Her summer dresses and strappy sandals looks very chic. Kate doesn't even wear open toed shoes anymore. What's up with that? At certain engagements they wouldn't be appropriate but at casual appearances such as Wimbledon that dress would have popped way more with a great pair of black peep toe pumps. But again Kate's clinging on to her nude colored pumps for dear life. And they look very dated and out of style on her now.

I'm just baffled by her fashion choices as the years go by, you can definitely look at pictures of her and see her style evolution, and for the most part it's went downhill. She's stepped out in some great memorable dresses but for the most part its the exact same shirts, tops, coat dresses in varying colors. I think most of the readers on this blog are just wondering what's happened to the fashionable duchess who stepped out in her bespoke McQueen wedding dress and wowed the world.

I could not have said it better!!!! I compare Catherine to the other European royals, style wise, and she pales in comparison. One of my favorite royal fashion icons is Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, she has just the right mix of professional and fashion forward and she also re-wears and mixes pieces. I think Kate has just settled into a routine, as you stated, and it's not a good one.

I couldn't have said it better Blair. From watching Kate over the years, I feel that something happened post Jubilee tour. Until then, her fashion choices were interesting and attention worthy. Since then, except for a handful of occasions, Kate seems to be erring on the extreme side of caution regarding her wardrobe. I'm wondering if she was spoken to about not standing out by someone. Has anyone else noticed this specific timeline?

I believe Kate wears the same outfit on purpose. The press always concentrates on what she is wearing and how she looks. She seems to wear the same thing because it doesn't take away from the event. If the press is going to talk about the day, they can't say much about her clothes. They have to say what she is doing and why she is there!

Kate would be in CP Mary's position if Charles was King and Camilla his Consort. In comparison, W&K are one generation behind as far as rank is concerned. The BRF's next king and queen are in their late sixties; do you seriously think they want W&K to be functioning at their maximum superstar potential?

I know a lot of young women who are not only parents but have a full time job for which they have to dress up, no nanny or housekeeper, and a house to keep up. Somehow, they manage.

I'm not a mum but I used to have a full time job and had to bring home work and travel for work and work on weekends - it took disclipline I didn't particularly enjoy to get my clothes together for every day - get things laundered and to stop at the cleaners on my way home -- and I had no help. Find tights with no ladders, pack clothes that wouldn't crease so I wouldn't look like an unmade bed when I arrived at my destination. Beg my mum to do laundry for me when I has a huge project to finish.

And there was nothing adnormal about this type of life - the world is filled with women coping with these things and much, much more.

Most young mums I know have little interest in Kate now. They did at the time of the wedding but not she seems out of touch and they've lost interest. Diana was very different. People thought she cared.

Kate is a hugely privilaged young woman - she has a nanny, a housekeeper and her mother helping her. She has no money issues with clothes - she can buy five white coats without thinking about it - she doesn't have to put George in the car when she goes to the shops, and push him around in a pushchair sobbing his eyes out, when she shops for groceries. She doesn't have to count the days until her maternity leave is up, and scramble to find child care.

Kate is a princess. We don't expect her life to be like ours. At the same time, we don't expect to feel sorry for her, or to think her life has any similarity to that of most of us or to assume she has the same day to day worries of most young mums who will decide if they think there is any value in a princess Kate.

The press attention is the main burden Kate has. Otherwise, she is one of the most privilaged women in the world - and with all the benefits she has at her disposal, put herself out just a little on the handful of engagement she does - a tiny percentage of her time. She has time to get her diving certificate, time to drive a long distance to a special shop for veggies. Tiime to take George to petting zoos without Charlotte. Lots of time to shop.

There are expectations of what she should be and what she should wear - some burdens, if you like, balanced with huge benefits. .It really doesn't seem like we are asking too much of her.

bluhare, if you are suggesting that C&C do not or would not have a problem with W&K's star power, then you are you skipping over a significant part of the Firm's history. Charles had a problem with Diana's popularity when she was his WIFE and at his side. He was incapable of recognizing that her popularity was a plus in his column as well. And now with a tolerated consort-to-be at this side, you believe he (they) would have no problem with it? Really? Okay.....if you say so. :)

Anon 3:48No please don't play the "Kate became a mother" card an an excuse. She indeed does have time for it. She has a nanny, housekeeper, and a mother who seems to love taking time off with her grandchildren. So no I don't buy it. And with all the resources Kate has, she doesn't even have to go shopping she can have it come to her.

Oh my goodness - what is all the fuss about?? It was a casual SPORTING event! Catherine dressed THE PART. Will you people never be satisfied?? William wore jeans and the same top as his wife. He then wore a similar outfit when handing out the medals. GOOD. GRIEFFFFF.

I believe she should wear what she feels is suitable for the occasion. That's all. She is stunning whatever she wears. In my opinion the emphasize should be on the fact that they are supporting the America's Cup World Series, not on what she was wearing. I think she was stylish and she should not be critisized about her choice.

Thank you for this post! I agree - it's a bit boring wearing the same things again and again. It ist so easy to transform this casual look. I prefer the coral trousers to the navy blazer! So chic! Or the red Zara blazer. I think this is what Kate's wearing in private. It is said that she's not a "fashionista".

Kate's character, devotion to her family, and compassion for others are the things that matter the most. She is not functioning as a fashion icon. The global society and media describe her as one, but that is not who she's trying to be. If she wants to repeat outfits, there is nothing wrong with that. She is being true to herself and that is the way it should be. She feels good about herself and that confidence is more important than her clothing.

I personally love the idea of the "uniform". Yes, it takes the pressure off Kate about what to wear, and reduces the amount of interest in her outfit. Not to mention: as a mum of little ones (who I'm sure take up all of her time), finding different casual clothes to wear cannot (and should not) be on the top of her to-do list. I have 2 kids of similar age and I think Kate is just lucky to get out of the house not covered in baby-related messes :) As always, HRH looks amazing and I think it's amazing how many times we have seen her publicly since the birth of the little princess.

Never realized that Kate wears the same outfit grocery shopping as she does to official engagements. It's noteworthy that folks are losing interest in her as a clothing inspiration, and that her non-participation in social causes is further turning folks away.

One thing we did learn is that she spends her "behind the scenes" time preparing for her vacations. It's a bit odd to me that KP put it out there like it was something the people of the UK would be proud to know - that she's reaching the highest achievements in recreation. You don't say!

Well, appearantly she got the certificate on Mustique and it was a American or something version of it and not ddone in the UK.. Plus there is no comment on WHEN she did it, so it could be that it just came out.

Well, I highly doubt a 6 month pregnant woman who reportedly suffers from HG got it this Winter. She's either been to Mustique since then or this is not a recent achievement but information to "fill in" news gaps because she's not publicly active.

I'm quite confused about when she got that certificate. I assumed too it was on Mustique - at least the dives were. But why announce it now? It seems to have been announced officially by Kensington Palace. Is it some scope of the Telegraph's that just came up. We may not be the only one scraping the bottom of the pot.

I'm wondering why we're supposed to care. It's like saying she's taking tennis lessons. We know she does a lot on her own time. Is this different?

Early on, Kate had a lot of new clothes because she married into the RF and became a Duchess (talk about a transition in one's life). She wears clothes multiple times like the rest of us; kudos to her for that. Isn't that sensible and far more realistic these days? And are people forgetting just how many new pieces she wore during her second pregnancy? Why do I suspect that the very same complaints about her being boring would turn into complaints about her spending money if she did meet the high standards being set on this blog. ;)

Precisely! They would find something to criticize in that case as well. It's not enough that Catherine looks stunning and is involved in a great number of charities, despite focusing on her young family at this time. These people want to have 100% approval of Catherine's fashion choices 100% of the time. It's just silly. It's a nautical event - Catherine is in stripes. What's the problem? The depiction of the variety in her previous outfits only proves the point that she often does indeed mix it up.

I don't think that's so - when Kate has been working - criticism has been much more muted. I think we all accept right now that she is taking a break after having a baby but it would be nice to have a clearer picture of what the autumn will bring. It's a trifle murky.

As for a great number of charities - I wish it was so but it isn't. (Possibly just as well, since she is concentrating on her young family and her diving certificate.)

I had no problem with Kate dressing casually at this last event but to wear the same outfit over and over reminds me of a young man who wore the same jeans for a year just to see what would happen. (They got pretty ratty.)

Clothes are one of the most important aspects of Kate's job - I think we would all be delighted if she wore some of her ones from the past - or some even from before her marriage - but nice clothes do equate to caring and I think that is the undercurrent that is troubling a lot of us.

We would like to think her present engagements, when they resume, are as important to her as her clubbing in the past - where she wore a wardrobe worth of interesting and stylsh clothes.

While I wish she would mix it up a bit this just seems to be rehashed over and over. It is almost a bashing of sorts. Ok, she keeps wearing the same uniform. The comments don't change from one post to the other. Why rehash it every single time? Bored to tears....

Let's all agree we need some change. That seems to be the concensus. But must we drone on and on about how soon NO ONE will be watching Kate? Hogwash.....

Sometimes I think some here are planted to stir the same embers over and over.. if it isn't hwr uniform. It is vacations....it is charities. ..it is her lack of respect. For Christ sake if you dislike her so much then stop reading the blog!!!

Find a day job! Pursue another royal figure that yout like and admire. Somwtimes I read these comments and I am stunned at the hostility. Stop it ladies! So unbecoming.

You know what else is sensible and realistic "these days" "like the rest of us"? Not spending millions of pounds of someone else's money to renovate your own home that the person paying for will never see or get to enjoy. Not spending millions of pounds of taxpayer money on security just so your husband can live off base when working. Not spending millions of pounds of taxpayer money on security by choosing to go to remote tropical islands for multi-week vacations on a yearly basis instead of going to one of the many palaces/large homes that your family and/or friends own.But yeah you're right...it's the repeating of clothes that really makes Kate like the rest of us - living a really sensible and realistic life.

Julia, really, what did Kate wear to Trooping the Colour? What did she wear to the Christening? What did she wear to introduce Charlotte to the world, ten hours after giving birth to her? What did she wear to the commemorations at Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's Cathedral? What did she wear while pregnant, especially in New York, but also to a flock of charitable events earlier this year? Surely you have not forgotten all that beautiful attire, much of it maternity outfits that may not be worn again!

This whole PR angle that they are "normal" just like us is ridiculous and counterproductive also.

although, I do not buy it that they are intrinsically Royal any more than the captains of Industry at the turn of the century were Royal.William's heritage of generations past, just through various means, managed to amass great wealth and hold on to it.

They gained position and power from that wealth but there is nothing intrinsically different about them. It is the position and power they now have that differentiates them from the masses.

Blue bloods indeed. Not unless they are aliens as some have postulated.

For the millionth time, I have never stated that Kate IS like the rest of us. But if she does something that is normal/typical, rather than regal and royal, wouldn't it be nice if people gave her credit for not being a high maintenance princess in the attitude department.

After all of the hoopla in the comments of the previous post, I have an honest question: If some of you guys are so bothered by Kate and her fashion choices/work ethic/whatever, why do you spend time reading about her and leaving lengthy comments in the first place? I see this pattern with other people and topics around the web so I'm not just pointing fingers here, but I really don't understand the logic. Why waste all of that effort on somebody you don't even like? It's one thing to have a conversation with differing opinions, but when it veers into straight-up complaining about somebody who literally has no impact on your life, I don't see the point. It's baffling.

It's not a question of liking. I neither like or dislike Kate - I don't know her.

I'm interested in Kate's role as a princess and how she fills that. What I care about is the royal family and I do admit to caring a lot about that although there are moments, past and present, when I wonder why. Kate is one of the most prominent members - she is prospectively a future queen.

At a time when the present looks doubtful, she and William are. along with Harry, the hopeful but uncertain future of the family. (I don't count George and Charlotte because William and Kate must be a success for them to have a role.)

That's why I'm here. And yes, clothes are very much a part of that - they are a huge and important part of royalty - go to Buckingham Palace and look at the queen's gowns presently on display if you doubt me. You won't see the same at Westminster - no one will remember David Cameron's suits.

I had high hopes for Kate, and they have died a little. I still hold out hope, so I keep following. Also I think it's important to be interested in current events and people even if they are disappointing. For example, I follow the news and read about the Republican presidential candidates in the US all the time even though I think most of them are horrendous people. I think it's important for people to know what's going on in the world. For example, if people think certain royal family members make the royal family no longer worth the money they cost, then I don't think the solution is to just ignore them - I think the solution is to follow them and know what's going on with them and then perhaps act on that. I also like to have discussions about things. I don't like to just have an opinion and leave it at that. Unlike many people who dislike my "critical" comments, I enjoy reading comments that say the opposite of what I think, because they challenge my views. I think that's important too.Lastly, I'm mostly interested in Kate's potential as the Duchess of Cambridge and future Queen. I'm interested in her status/position, not necessarily her. So, I follow her and what she does, and comment on how I feel about it.And if she has no impact on our lives - why have a blog about her even if you DO like her? Couldn't the "Kate fans" do something more "important" than follow someone who doesn't matter for their lives? Yep. But they don't. I really don't get why liking her is a prerequisite to spending time following her. It's a hobby for everyone, regardless of how they feel about her. Everyone could be doing something different (and perhaps more "important") with their time - that's not just applicable to those who post critical things.

She is a future Queen consort, a current Duchess, Baroness, Countess. She has the clout and assets to do so much. That is why she is newsworthy. We are watching and waiting and processing through dialoguing along the way.

Definitely agree blue27 for some reason people seem to interpret that if you say you dislike Kate's outfit then you somehow dislike her. Then you get all these comments calling you a hater, saying you're jealous. And that's simply not true. It's like the same thing with a friend or family member, if you tell them one day you don't like their outfit does that mean you dislike them too. No, it just means that the particular items of clothing that they are wearing you dislike.

He VERY much do. Blue suit for everyday work, a shirt and a blue pullover plus pants/jeans for everyday and or casual. Jeans, shirt and blazer for semi-formal/casual and jeans, beaded belt and shirt for casual. :P Noone ever complains about the dudes. Well. they kind oof do in a one paragraph joke. Why can't the ladies be afforded the same luxuary?!

Love the pictures of George and grandma at the beach. He is always so animated it cracks me up! He was just talking away at her while playing. Seeing them hold hands.... Melts my heart. Nothing more precious than a loving relationship! And the topic of loving relationships brings me to: I am so impressed that Kate has gotten certified as a diver. I won't lie, I'm probably more impressed than the average person because I'm terrified of swimming in water I can't see through- just my own weird quirk. Whether for sport or being involved in something her husband loves, I think that they continue to do things that inspire their relationship together is something I really admire. Royal or not, money or not, relationships are difficult. Anything one does to make it happy and one worth having for the rest of one's life is special. Congrats to Kate on the accomplishment.

Frankly, I like being underwhelmed by the HRH in terms of fashion. She's probably sick of getting ogled for what she wears (guilty here), is aware that she is NOT the next queen consort in line (i..e its Camilla, as things stand), and overall it's smart to have royal events BE about the events and not about HER CLOTHES.

I am a complete partisan of being underwhelmed by fashion at events. Good for her. Silvia.

Great job Charlotte as always! Yours is the only blog I read! I wonder, are we all taking into consideration the fact that we still have the Queen, Prince Charles, and the Duchess of Cornwall and various other high ranking royals working and seeking attention for their various causes? True, the Duchess of Cambridge does not dress with as much sparkle, femininity, or pizzazz as she did when first married, but it wouldn't surprise me if her quick and impressive rise to fame was a little too much for some folks. Prince Charles and The Duchess of Cornwall have waited ages for the best seats in the house and I think the Duchess of Cambridge is smart enough to see that she must perform to a certain standard, yes, but NEVER outshine the Monarch or those next in line. If the Duchess continued to wow and engage everyone as she used to she was in danger of becoming much, much, more popular than some or the older royals and they wouldn't like that, in a very bad way. I think she is handling all of this brilliantly! She does an excellent job as wife, mother and princess. It isn't supposed to be about the cloths right now, for her anyway. If you are looking for royals dressing to impress you, go check out the Duchess of Cornwall's blog and take in some of her regalia.

No thank you Anonymous 17. I can't stand the Duchess of Cornwall. I won't rehash all the reasons but I have not the slightest interest in what she wears or what she does. I frankly wish she would retire so we didn't have to deal with her. I doubt I'll even watch the coronation when the time comes.

And there are a lot of people like me. And even those who say well, it's nice she has made Charles happy (if she truly has - he doesn't look that happy to me) don't have much interest in what she wears or does. Her last poll numbers were down with Andrew.

The worst mistake the royal family made when Diana died was assuming they could tell people what they should think and do. It not only didn't work. it failed miserably. But lessons don't seem to have been learnt. At the end of the day, it is the public that will decide if they want a monarchy.

There was just an article today. Public attendance has dropped noticeably at the palace. The Kate effect is over. If that money doesn't come in - the queen is likely to be asked to spend more of her personal money. At the recent Battle of Britain event - crowds were noticeably smaller.

People want a princess. It might not have to be Kate - if there was someone else (someone jokingly suggested in the comments that Harry needs to be pushed to marry - how sad is that.) And as Kate becomes less popular - others don't rise - they get pulled down with her and attention to the family dies away.

But no, I may stop watching Kate one of these days, we'll see what happens. But care about Camilla. Never.

You know the rest of the Kardashian family has suffered greatly in terms of PR and such because Kim is so flamboyant. NOT

KATE's popularity can only help the royal family not harm it. Go for it Kate you have been given opportunities that surpass what most people even dream of. Make the most of every opportunity. Don't downplay them.

I love that we see her wearing the same items more than once. Not only is it practical, I think it makes her more approachable. If you look at pics of William you will see he wears the same or similar clothes frequently as well, yet I don't hear anyone complaining about that. They are thoughtful people who realize that the most important matter is NOT what they are wearing. Besides, I think people would be even more outraged if she bought a completely new outfit for every event.

No one is saying she needs a completely new outfit every time. That's seriously oversimplifying things. Kate wears literally the same outfit to so many things. And to be honest - I don't get how wearing the exact same outfit makes her approachable when they are spending millions of pounds of taxpayer money to renovate a palatial home, along with spending millions more on security for their vacations to tropical islands for multiple weeks or to her parents' house constantly. Like, I'm not complaining about these things. But do you/they really think that people are naive enough to think that Kate is approachable/practical simply because she repeats the exact same outfit for casual events, given the rest of their spending habits? I almost think it's insulting to spend millions of pounds of taxpayer money on their lifestyle but then to skimp when it comes to clothes that they wear when appearing in front of taxpayers. It's like - they will spend taxpayer money when it's for their own personal goals but not when it's for the goals of the public. And don't get me wrong - I don't think Kate's job is to dress up for the people paying for the way she lives. I just think it's her job to look nice and like she's trying a little with her appearance when she's doing her engagements, which are basically a way to give back to the community that helps support her. And like, so many of the pap pics of her over the years involve her shopping. She clearly spends time on clothes. Just not for people not in her private life. Please let's not make this a debate about how much taxpayers spend on her or if she has the right to go on vacation or to her parents' home. That's not the point of my comment at all.

Maggie, that is exactly what I have said in previous posts. And yes, I think it is an insult for them to do that. Honestly, that makes me question Kate's motives and thought processes.Is she actually a super privileged snob at the core? It is starting to seem so, sadly. She has been so pampered all her life, perhaps that is all she knows. Her efforts to reach out at this point seem shallow and patronizing. :(

Maggie, you did bring up taxpayers. And we know that it is much more expensive for them if Kate is out on official business than if she is at home, or moving about in private, where her expenses are paid for privately. Security is a fact of her life everywhere. So why are you mentioning taxpayers, and then saying let's not talk about them. I believe, too, that like most of us Kate shops for things other than her own clothing - William's, the children's, needs for her homes, gifts, and so on. Like all of us, she has reasons to visit the shops from time to time.

While I agree with people saying that she isn't a clothes horse, I just can't help missing the Duchess we were used to see back in 2011, early 2012. I can't seem to understand what has actually happened to her sartorial choices... Most of my interest in her has been vanishing ever since.

I am extremely happy that so many people think the Duchess wears boring, repetitive clothes and that they are proclaiming they have lost all interest in her. Perhaps I will no longer have to read their critical, carping comments here, repeated ad nauseum. Excellent!

Ironically, the comments complaining about critical comments are repeated as ad nausem as the critical comments themselves. And at least the critical comments make an actual logical argument, rather than just complaining that people have a differing opinions.

It's the language you use, not the critical part of it. You say things to people like "I don't GET IT when..." and you clearly, do, get it. You start a war of words with your sarcastic language and the way you come across as making people feel "less than" because of their opinion. You are not just critical, you want a fight. Your "logical" arguments are only clear to you, which I don't get.You are here specifically to be critical, as if you are smarter and are going to "school" people on what they "should" be caring about. Your words come across as intolerant and shaming. None of that is just a difference in opinion, it is a war of words which makes people feel combative.

I really like Kate's casual sporty uniform (am a big fan of the stripes myself) but I also agree with the comments that it is a bit staid these days. I understand Kate feeling comfortable in this and potentially using it as a way for photographers and fans to focus on the events and not her clothes, but I also agree that jazzing it up by tweaking the colors is a fun twist and changes the whole look and would be a welcome change. I love those coral jeans! And the red blazer with the polka dots is cute too. Seeing those pictures makes me wish she would change it up just a little.

I love the tree house! But William's face in the four-way photograph has a somewhat pensive expression. I think the little boy who wanted to be left alone is still there somewhere, even though William has come to terms with his destiny. Living in Scotland, in Wales, in East Anglia, and flying helicopters all give him some space as well as good experience.

Thanks Charlotte for a great post. Wow, an advanced diver certificate and wanting to dive with sharks. How fun. I have my PADI open water diving certification and can only dive up to 30 feet. I wanted to get the advanced but now I'm not so sure I really want to go that deep. What a fun thing to do with your husband. I can't due to medical concerns for him and the pressure diving has on your body so I am envious of the Duke/Duchess.

It's so interesting to me to read the comments about Kate's clothes. Shouldn't the focus be on her charities and not what she wears. I am a big fan of her fashion and enjoy getting the updates as much as anyone else but think that such focus on something like that is really a shame. The focus should really be on the charity she is trying to support. I know that some people don't agree with her sailing charity choice and that is fine but when did the blog become so negative about Kate? Why do we feel justified to make judgements on someone else that we don't truly know. Would we want that same kind of scrutiny on us and our life choices?

I find myself wondering if there are a couple of things going on for the people comparing engagement Kate to motherhood Kate.1 - When she first made her engagement announcement and introduced to the world she was somewhat new to people (outside the UK especially). Her fashion seemed fresh and different. She was like a shiny new toy, that everyone is in love with until you become bored with it and are looking for the next shiny new toy. Kate is no longer new, no longer a surprise, and our need for the next new toy is jading our view of a lovely lady that still conducts herself with poise, is still fashionable, and a future queen of England.2 - Look at what all the other celebrities in the news were wearing/still wearing or rather not wearing for a better description. She was one of the few in that age range that looked respectable. That made her different, made her stick out. Drew so many of us to her to learn more about her. She was the girl next door that dared to be different. Since she has been in the public now for a couple of years, she is no longer that different. She is the same, consistent, boring. But there is nothing wrong with that.3 - This is Kate. This is how she chooses to dress. This is HER Style. She is never going to be the girl who just stepped out of the Vogue magazine. Her style is classic, not flashy, the kind that is reachable for everyone to obtain. Accept that this is her style and that it probably won't change for a while or otherwise disappoint and frustration over unmet expectations will continue. To what end, it won't affect her at all, but it will affect the ones that can't accept it.

Finally, my go to outfit involves jeans, some sort of colorful shirt (most often a cotton T-shirt) and Nike's. I'm no fashion plate either on most days. ;-)

If you are telling everybody that we should focus on Kate's charities and not her clothes, why is Charlotte even bothering with all the work she puts in describing the clothes?? Might as well just talk about the charities and OMIT EVERYTHING about the clothes. That way, nobody will ever even be given a chance to express ANY smidgen of negativity about Kate's choices in clothes. Then Everyone will be happy that all the negative opinions have been quashed; for that matter,, ALL the opinions will have been quashed.. Is that what everybody here really wants?? A blog with a picture and a description of a charity?? Bye I'm out

Yes, the focus should be on her charities, but what does Kate do to make the focus on her charities? Like I'm really not trying to bring up old discussions, but she rarely speaks about her charities or their causes. All she does is go to an event, accept flowers, talk to some kids, listen to what a charity does for 10 minutes, and then leave. It's Kate's job to put the focus on charities, and I'd say that she isn't succeeding right now, for whatever reason. Also no one is trying to say Kate needs a new bespoke, exciting dress for every event. I don't really get why people are saying this is HER style. You can have a style that includes variety. Having a style does not mean you have to wear literally the same outfit to everything. If you look at any pap pictures of her from private events that are recent, she isn't wearing this breton stripe + navy jean outfit. She clearly has a style outside of this very specific outfit. She just isn't sharing it with the public for whatever reason. And to be honest, I don't think it's conducting yourself with poise to wear worn out jeans and shoes. It's really not imo.

Also if things should be about the charity, then maybe she should attend events actually about the charity. This sailing event was clearly barely about the charity. It was about BAR racing, with a tiny bit of meeting some kids involved in the charity for 15 minutes.

I've no complaint about Kate having a casual "uniform". I only wish she would change up just one item with every appearance, even if she did so in some sort of rotation. There are so many reasonably priced, British fashion items she could showcase as your post indicated.

Fashion showcasing is part of her public persona and her role. If she is snapped at Tesco, I wouldn't necessarily expect to see anything different. But during appearances, it's part of her job to promote fashion and a "look". She has done this admirably to date but is clearly busy and focused on her family as her priorities develop and evolve. I just wish she would hire help if she needs it to follow through on this responsibility.

I find myself becoming rather bored and disappointed with Kate lately. Sure this probably says something negative about me but I don't think I'm alone in this.

Kate does have to work to retain public interest and, lately, any spark from her just isn't there. She really isn't doing very much for her causes. When press/public attention is both voracious and fickle, I think more is expected of her and William than they are giving. I know she's playing the "long game" with her role relative to HM/Prince Phillip and Charles/Camilla but she has to do more. I hope she picks up her game soon. With all her resources, she can do more, employ some help if she needs it and not detract from her family life.

I say this with the utmost respect and with sincere hope that we'll see "more" of Kate soon.

I too am bored seeing the same top since 2011. Im sure she could mixnmatch the jeans and tops she wears. I wonder if she realizes what the popular opinion is.. On another note,, I love the garden Charles made for his grandkids!!Absolutely divine and pristine. I applaud Will and Kate for wanting to swim with the sharks,,Im not that ambitious ;-) Thank you Charlotte for this post!xoxo

The treehouse, yay. I thought it was so sweet of Charles to update that for them. The children will no doubt consider it even more special because their daddy and their Uncle Harry used to play there.

There are so many pictures of Carole and George at Popsugar. WHO took those photos I wonder? I read somewhere some time ago that Kate was taking riding lessons and working on her piot's license. I wonder if that's true?

DIANA KNEW HOW TO USE FASHION ON MANY LEVELS. (Her little black dress worn the night Charles was elsewhere on television doing his tell all. Diane stole the headlines.)Did her fashion ever draw attention away from the charities she was patron of? NO. Quite the contrary.

Okay.1. we know Kate hasn't been as active with her charities as other royals are with theirs. 2. we have learned that Kate is indeed doing work behind the scenes. getting diving certification.3. we see that she isn't putting a widely accepted wardrobe choice to use at her more casual official engagements.Julia, I agree. What does this say about her true priorities compared to other senior royals and other senior royals around the world. Like you, I am concerned about her use of her position and platform.

My uniform? In winter, a turtleneck shirt, substantial lined wool pants, a warm sweater, tights and loafers. And a heavy coat. For dress I substitute a wool jacket for the sweater and low heeled pumps or boots for the loafers. (I live in a very cold climate.) In summer, I wear lightweight slacks or capris with a pullover shirt (NO horizontal stripes!), maybe a lightweight sweater if needed, and mary janes or sturdy sandals. For dress, slacks or rarely a skirt with hosiery, nice tee shirt or pullover, and a lightweight jacket. Now and then it is warm enough for shorts; I own a couple of pairs for hot days.

Charlotte, I like your cruise wardrobe. A bit young for me, but lovely for you. You can achieve very nice variety.

I am not bored with Kate's nautical outfit, which she wears in very appropriate settings, but I am tired of reading discussions about it! And seeing again her earlier pictures, it is obvious that she has had to make a transition from royal girlfriend to royal wife and mother. Her clothing cannot be quite so revealing or trendy now. But she does shine when she dresses up, and she should be given more credit than she is for the beauty of her choices. And left alone about her casual attire!

Don't understand why people say she is not a clotheshorse. Didn't she work for a fashion/jewelry company as a buyer? She is most definitely interested in fashion.

The idea thst she is just interested in being a humanitarian is preposterous. If she wanted to be a humanitarian, then she would be one. No evidence that she is so far. And don't say that is because she is a new mother. She didn't shiw much interest before her children were born, and furthermore, many mothers of young children still find the time to pursue what truly interests them.

Personally I LOVE the fact that she isn't spending a fortune on Brand New outfits for everything! It shows that she's frugal and cares more about other things than clothes! I think it shows the people that she isn't frivolous with the money she is given (remember she doesn't have a job so this is all coming from Tax? dollars) and is willing to forgo being a fashion icon and instead be a proper role model for young girls everywhere.

My go to outfit for casual. Jeans,slim boot cut or wide leg, cute colorful Nikes, ankle boots under the jeans or sky high sandals or heels for a bit more polished look. Depending on how casual, solid tight some stretch tee,short or long sleeve, if cool add a down lightweight zip vest, pullover lightweight sweater, or flowy sheer blouse with cami. I do not mind Catherine's jeans it is the above the ankle length that bugs me, I prefer any type of jean to come down to the shoe or clearly be capri length. If not tight at the ankles(boot cut or flare) to go over the shoe top. Commented before but would love to see the treehouse. ali

Charlotte puts so much time and effort into showing us Kate's favorite designers' collections. It is so interesting and fun to see all the new collections, and Charlotte even hi-lites specific items that she feels would be appropriate for Kate: beautiful dresses that have a tiny bit of an edge. I wish Kate would wear ANY and all of those dresses that Charlotte displays. Some of them may be a little too showy, but most of the ones Charlotte hi-lites would look fabulous on Kate. However, she continues to choose overworn, dowdy or boring outfits much of the time.

I agree that showing up to a charity looking like a million bucks, certainly does not detract from the charity! Quite the contrary! I do think "the firm" is afraid of Kate becoming another Diana, and stealing the attention from Charles and Camilla.

I freely admit that I come to this blog solely for the fashion, and because I like the pictures. You don't need to spend tremendous amounts of money to be "fashionable". But you CAN spend a lot of money and still end up looking like your step mother-in-law/grandmother-in-law. I'm 61 and wouldn't be caught dead in most of the clothes my mother wears, haha, my kids wouldn't let me anyway!"

Frugal. I think the interest/support generated for the charities/events and Britain in general by Kate dressing her part, without sartorial apologies, would be better and more realistic and honest.

If frugality is the issue, then they can drive a Corolla rather than a new, custom Bentley. They can vacation the shores of Norfolk beach rather than Mustique and Switzerland. They can drive their Corolla rather than have a personal family helicopter. They can forget the household employees and nanny and do the work themselves and have family pinch hit for them with babysitting. Oh, and instead of bespoke dresses and $20,000 beaded gowns Kate can shop Penneys.

Why drop the Royal ball by trying 5% of the time to appear frugal?

Diana, while being a dear and special person, would not have been as popular and remembered had she not dressed perfectly like a princess everywhere she went. She revived interest in the royal family with her wardrobe and is iconic because of it. She also greatly boosted incomes for British clothing designers and vendors.

Kate's attempts at showing frugality are hypocritical at best and counter-intuitive and counter-productive. It won't pan out for long.

MO has eight years to leave a footprint. Kate has a lifetime. In the meantime, I don't suspect we will see the Duchess doing push-ups in one of the State rooms at BP.

Kate is not an anchor nor is she a senior royal. Google Camilla in a polka dot skirt and see all the change ups. And this is NOT a criticism of Camilla....just pointing out that senior royals recycle as often as Kate does.

Clearly the "uniform" issue is not unlike that of the fuschia coat and the 9/11 museum, and, obviously, there will never be a consensus of opinion. The posters who think that how one dresses is not important will never convince those that who love fashion and think how one presents themself is important otherwise. I will say that I have read all the comments, and if this were a debate, those disgruntled with the rewear would have won. At least they are clearly stating their position and why with strong arguements. For the most part, those supporting the outfit are just trying to shut down the discussion or attempting to argue that being well put together is shallow or obsolete, or renders one ineffective as a patron. I will say that like it or not, what one wears to work is important . Image is as important as how well one works, and often, a person's sucess depends upon it. Any professional woman is well aware of that fact. Also, I agree with Julia that being well dressed is a sign of respect. No one needs to say that went out with the Queen Mother . The concept is alive and well in my world, and I'm only in my early forties. Also, Maggie, I enjoyed reading all your posts. They have been well thought out and fair.

Canadian Friend - I think this is an interesting statement: "I find myself becoming rather bored and disappointed with Kate lately. Sure this probably says something negative about me but I don't think I'm alone in this."

Is that what Kate wants? For the public to be bored and leave her alone? She doesn't have to please or keep interested the masses, but if we, her loyal fans, are getting disinterested, how does that fare for the future of the monarchy?

ps. Food for thought - Angelina Jolie wears a uniform and has for years. And yet, we still talk about her once her wild escapades ended and follow her because her work on behalf of her charities is incredibly engaging...perhaps Kate could adopt that sort of model...speak more and we will listen instead of just looking at what she wears?

Honestly, the 'uniform' is whatever. What I care about is that Kate wants to focus on her children and therefore will not be visiting her charities, yet she can find the time to get a diving certificate? To me that shows her priorities and it is a bit disappointing. If she can take time away from her children for diving, then she can spare at least one hour a week with her charities. Her visits are brief anyway, so it is not taking that much time out of her day or spending time with her children.

I'm from Belgium, and our queen Mathilde draws a lot of attention to her charities, as well as to her clothes. She wears the same brand a lot (Natan), has a "standard dress" in different colours and patterns to look professional while keeping it interesting, and she now really puts an effort into it to wear a variety of belgian designers. Royals draw a lot of attention, and a lot of them are real ambassadors of their countries fashion brands. In the UK, I feel like Sophie is doing more of that than Kate... Maybe we need to give her some time with her family for now, and things will get better once she is crown princess and her children are older. But I do think she has a very conservative style of her own (looking at pictures from before the marriage), and if she wants to become a style icon and an ambassador for British fashion, she should definitely get a stylist...

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Kate's Calendar

27 February - The Duchess will visit the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to learn more about the College’s global health programmes to reduce maternal and newborn mortality worldwide, and will attend a roundtable discussion on tackling the stigma around women’s health.

Later that day, Kate will visit St Thomas' Hospital to officially launch a campaign to promote nursing worldwide. Her Royal Highness will visit a specialist ward, take part in a roundtable discussion and deliver a speech to mark the launch of the Nursing Now campaign.

28 February - The Duchess of Cambridge, Patron of the National Portrait Gallery, will visit the exhibition 'Victorian Giants: The Birth of Art Photography'. Forming the Gallery's first Patron's Trail, Kate has selected images from the exhibition for which she has written personal captions that will be displayed alongside the photographs. The Duchess has also written a foreword to the exhibition catalogue.

19 May - The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor.

12 October - The wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank at Windsor.